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Tributes paid to former Barrow publican

By Aimee Walsh

Last updated at 08:32, Friday, 07 December 2012

TRIBUTES have been paid to a loving family man and well-known former publican. Jimmy Jones, landlord of the Strawberry in Barrow from 1977 to 1982, died in the early hours of November 28 following a battle with ongoing heart problems.

The 76-year-old, who had a heart bypass 26 years ago, had been admitted to Furness General Hospital on November 26.The “very charming man”, who was born in Barrow in 1936, was father to Michael and Christine.

He was grandfather to eight and had 12 great-grandchildren. Mr Jones, of Glenridding Drive, Barrow, managed a number of Furness pubs during his lifetime, including the Lancastrian in Ulverston, and the Vickerstown Institute on Walney, alongside his late wife Aileen.

His partner, Margaret Williams, who first met Mr Jones as a teenager in the 1940s, remembers him fondly as “a very sociable man”. Mrs Williams, who had been with Mr Jones for seven years, said he became ill at Easter.

However, she added: “He kept going and kept fighting.”The 77-year-old described how Mr Jones was famous for his sense of humour. She said: “He used to say to the boys in the pub: ‘Did you ever pay me for that pint?’ That was his joke. He was a very happy man. He was quite a joker. He had a lot of spirit.”

His daughter, Christine Park, described her father as a loving and caring man. Mrs Park said at Christmas he always put up a light display on his bungalow and placed a bucket outside to collect money for local charities.

When his family reminisced about their favourite times they had spent with him, they struggled to choose just one and instead said they were all moments they treasured.His daughter said she particularly likes to remember the times she spent abroad with Mr Jones in the last few years.

Mrs Park said: “We have had four cruises in the last four years with him.” During the family holidays, Mrs Park and her husband, Colin, travelled with Mr Jones and Mrs Williams around the Mediterranean and the Greek islands. The mother-of-three, 54, added: “Everybody that met him loved him. There is only one Jimmy Jones.”

Have your say

grandad you were the best thank you for all you have ever done for us we will miss you forever we will cherish all the good times and all the fun and laughter we shared. you will be in hearts always. grandad jimmy love and miss you, the funniest and most lovely grandad ever love jess and ollie xx

Posted by cheryl goodwin on
10 December 2012 at 18:20

precious happy memories kept in my heart forever, no one can can take them away from me, love you miss you dad , christine xxxxx